Leon Best’s goal a minute before half-time saw Rotherham United to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. The former Irish international scraped home from close range from a Matt Derbyshire cross, the Millers having caught Town on the break after they had lost possession from a freekick in the visitors’ half.

Boss Mick McCarthy named the same team which beat Blackburn 2-0 on Tuesday with new loan signing Liam Feeney amongst the subs.

Also on the bench were ex-Miller Ben Pringle and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who came in for the injured Luke Varney, while Michael Crowe took the place of the ill Dean Gerken as the sub keeper.

Rotherham included former Town loanee Paul Green on their bench, while Paddy Kenny, who was on a short-term deal with the Blues last season without making an appearance, was the Millers’ sub keeper.

The Blues created the game’s first opportunity in the fifth minute when skipper Luke Chambers crossed from the right and Freddie Sears, playing on the left of a front three with Daryl Murphy on the right and the more central Brett Pitman dropping deeper, headed over.

Town had the better of the opening quarter of an hour but without threatening again until the 16th minute when, after good work down the left from Jonathan Douglas, Pitman teed up Sears, but his shot failed to test Lee Camp in the Rotherham goal.

On 21 Lee Frecklington claimed he’d been fouled by Douglas as he broke into the area chasing a pass over the top but the former Peterborough man appeared just to have been out-muscled.

A minute later, with the visitors now on top, Richard Smallwood brought the ball in from the left and hit a low shot which Bartosz Bialkowski claimed easily.

In the 37th minute, after Bialkowski had been crowded out as a long throw came in from the right, Frecklington looped the loose ball wide.

Two minutes later, the Blues carved out an opportunity but Camp confidently dealt with Chambers’s shot, to ironic cheers from a section of the Town support in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

At the other end, Grant Ward struck a deflected effort from the edge of the box which Bialkowski pushed behind to his left.

Rotherham had shaded a not overly engaging half and a minute before the break they went in front.

Following a Town freekick in the Millers’ half, Douglas played a loose pass on halfway and Derbyshire broke away down the right before crossing to the unmarked Best, who turned home before Christophe Berra could get back to intercept.

There was no time for the Blues to hit back before referee Stephen Martin blew his final whistle, signalling boos from a frustrated Town support.

Even before the goal it had been a disappointing half from Town, who after starting positively had allowed the visitors to get on top and on the balance of the half overall they deserved their lead.

Unsurprisingly, the Blues made a switch of personnel at the break with new loan signing Feeney handed his debut and Douglas making way.

Town began the half brightly and soon after the restart Chambers fed Sears on the right of the area and the former Colchester man hit a low shot which was cleared from inside the six-yard box.

The Blues kept up the early pressure, Pitman forcing Camp into a brave save as he sought to latch on to a loose ball in the box.

On 53 Feeney whipped over a cross from the right which Jonas Knudsen headed against a defender and out for a corner. From the flag-kick, the ball reached Chambers but the Town captain was unable to make significant contact with his header. Seconds later, as Rotherham looked to break, Knudsen was booked for a foul on Ward.

In the 57th minute Feeney battled for the ball with Joe Mattock on the right before sending over a cross which Knudsen headed straight at Camp.

As the game moved past the hour, Pitman did well to find Sears on the left as he was fouled by Greg Halford, referee Martin waving play on. Sears took the ball into the area and shot well wide before Halford was yellow-carded for the foul.

Town were still less than convincing with the ball being given away cheaply on too many occasions, while cross after cross was claimed by Camp in the air.

But on 67 Pitman worked himself a chance on the edge of the area and was fouled by Lloyd Doyley as he hit a shot which was deflected wide.

Town’s top scorer took the freekick himself but blazed well over. Three minutes later, ex-Miller Pringle took over from Pitman.

On 74 Kevin Bru replaced Hyam for Town and four minutes later Joe Newell came on for Derbyshire for the Millers.

The Blues continued to make little headway and on 88 Rotherham created their first chance of the half, Halford cutting back to Ward, who screwed his shot wide.

The fourth official’s board indicated an additional four minutes with Town still rarely looking like getting back on terms.

Feeney, the Blues’ main second-half threat, broke away on the left and cut the ball across when he might have shot but won a corner from which Town came as close to a goal as they had all match.

A loose ball fell to Pringle beyond the far post but he hit his shot from a tight angle across the face of goal and wide with none of his team-mates able to add a final touch.

Soon after, the referee blew his whistle signalling boos and chants of ‘What a load of rubbish’ from the home support.

Manager Mick McCarthy immediately made his way down the tunnel, unusually not staying on the pitch to shake his players’ hands along with assistant boss Terry Connor.

As at Cardiff last week, having gone behind, the Blues were huffed and puffed but - after their post-half-time flurry - were devoid of ideas and were unable to seriously threaten Rotherham’s lead, a couple of Feeney crosses aside.

It was as poor a performance as Town have put in at home in what’s generally been a disappointing season at Portman Road.

Given the toughness of the Blues’ remaining away games, missing out on three points from what looked on paper to be a very winnable home match is a significant bow to Town’s up and down play-off aspirations.

Rotherham, now unbeaten in five, winning four, are out of the bottom three and up to 10th.

The result sees the Blues stay eighth but now four points - plus goal difference - from the play-offs ahead of the two-week gap for the international break with Town next in action at Wolves on April 2nd.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Hyam (Bru 74), Douglas (Feeney 46), Sears, Murphy, Pitman (Pringle 70). Unused: Crowe, Maitland-Niles, Digby, Foley.

Rotherham: Camp, Mattock, Broadfoot (c), Frecklington, Kelly, Halford, G Ward, Derbyshire (Newell 78), Smallwood, Doyley, Best (Clarke-Harris 84). Unused: Kenny, Wood, D Ward, Green, Burke. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 20,318 (Rotherham: 344).

Photo: Action Images

HarryS_H added 17:16 - Mar 19 I don't care how well the team played but booing and singing "what a load of rubbish" to the team we support is an absolute disgrace!! #believe
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tomitfc added 17:17 - Mar 19 Starting 3 defensive midfielders against Rotherham is criminal. Why on earth did Marcus Evans reward the management with new contracts? We have 3 more years of this pathetic excuse for 'football'.
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prebsa added 17:17 - Mar 19 We saw on Tuesday that trio of midfield players could not make opportunities for the forwards and again they have shown! The correct midfield was on at the end of the game but that was too late! More hoofball continued followed my no effort to head or flick it on. Mick set us up at home to take a point and it is an embarrassment. The defence again was poor with Knudesn again lumping the ball into nothing the same with Chambers the other side! The only positives from today was when we had feeny on the pitch with Bru and Pringle. The only 3 who wanted to get the ball and bring it forward. All 3 were subs showing Mick again got his tactics wrong! This team in the playoffs wouldn't stand a chance and in the premiership people would just laugh at us. Going up now playing like that looks almost gone!

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cartman1972 added 17:18 - Mar 19 And there is the death knell to any possible promotion. Perhaps our next purchase should be a young forward thinking manager instead of a defensively minded imbecile
46

BoredWithThisNow added 17:19 - Mar 19 Utter jiz
10

Sir_Bob added 17:20 - Mar 19 I am embarrassed to be an Ipswich fan tonight That is all
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DeanoBlue added 17:21 - Mar 19 Time for McCarthy to go, even if Evans backed him in the summer with money I don't think his tactics would change, 3 defensive midfielders = no creative supply for strikers
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Taricco_Fan added 17:22 - Mar 19 A manager lacking in tactical nous as much as he lacks transfer funds. If we're going to run the club on a shoestring we need a smart, dynamic manager.
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JimmyP45 added 17:23 - Mar 19 Was crystal clear we didn't play well on Tuesday but got a fortunate penalty which brought the win. Was a terrible disrespectful team selection today with all our potential and creative players on the bench. Not the type of display which makes us want to renew our season tickets now is it?
60

paulcooperisgod added 17:23 - Mar 19 Well done MM and ME you got what you wanted, another season in the safe championship! Woo betide getting promotion coz then ME will have to spend some money and boring MM will be found out as average championship manager!! # NO AMBITION
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HarryS_H added 17:25 - Mar 19 People saying this was a defensive team obviously didn't notice we started with 3 strikers and then subbed on an attacking midfielder and 2 wingers... The only reason I'd be embarrassed to be a town fan is the fact that you lot know nothing about football!
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cromwellblue added 17:25 - Mar 19 Since referendums are the thing these days, let's see where we are McCarthy In then vote up McCarthy Out then vote down
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HarryS_H added 17:26 - Mar 19 People saying this was a defensive team obviously didn't notice we started with 3 strikers and then subbed on an attacking midfielder and 2 wingers... The only reason I'd be embarrassed to be a town fan is the fact that you lot know nothing about football!
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HarryS_H added 17:26 - Mar 19 People saying this was a defensive team obviously didn't notice we started with 3 strikers and then subbed on an attacking midfielder and 2 wingers... The only reason I'd be embarrassed to be a town fan is the fact that you lot know nothing about football!
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bluefeast added 17:26 - Mar 19 Been saying it a long time but Mick is the wrong man ,his beliefs on how the game should be played are not alined to the fans, Are 20000 people wrong Mick ,clearly not ,but as you say you couldn't give a flying F what us the fans think.
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northstand78 added 17:26 - Mar 19 Bloody dinosaur....hang your head in shame MM..
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gorse added 17:27 - Mar 19 Really have no idea what that selection was intended to achieve.
26

trueblue16 added 17:28 - Mar 19 Just spent £50 on what was as entertaining as watching paint dry, just frankly embarrassing to be an ipswich fan right now, not saying McCarthy out but I think Evans needs to have a board meeting to discuss the problems
17

Westy added 17:29 - Mar 19 Total embarrassment and frustration. Why is it that whenever Season Ticket renewals are sent out and there is a big crowd we play so poorly ? Anyone who purchased a ten pound ticket via a Season Ticket holder for today's match will feel they waisted their money and half a day of their time and won't come back for a long time, if ever. We needed to win today to even keep pace with those around us and we put out one of the worst performances for years against a team in the Relegation zone. A total farce. We set up to defend !

32

EssexTractor added 17:29 - Mar 19 Sadly we shouldn't be surprised. Performances have been uninspired, individuals have looked without passion, passing is now a distant memory on this hallowed turf. Those who say MM saved the club may have been correct. Saved us from the drastic fall to League One, but now via his stubbornness, his inability to even have a justifiable Plan. A, he has now contrived to make us a joke team. Truly embarrassing. . The team selection today defies belief . Season ticket renewal forms lacked one absent ingredient, how to cancel next seasons! Engage some telephonists, you will need them.

28

irishtim added 17:30 - Mar 19 The first time I have failed to back MM. Needs to go now. Think he might quit. Thanks for putting us on a platform. Starting that 3 in midfield today totally lost my support. Have great respect for Mick, always have and will but we need the next chapter in ITFC history.
26

StochesStotasBlewe added 17:31 - Mar 19 Absolute garbage. Those who think the sun shines out of McCarthys arse should have witnessed that tactically inept dinosaurs team today, bereft of any basic passing, aimless hoofball to an innefective Sears & Murphy, 3 holding midfielders at home to a side in the bottom 3, not one real chance carved out in 90 minutes of utter tedium. I expect a few will come on here tonight giving it the "Mick saved us bla bla bla" The fact is that the whole team was inept at even the basic skill set required. Time to go Mick.

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grubbyoik added 17:32 - Mar 19 Im sure MM will paper over his tactically inept cracks.. Unfortunately they keep coming back week after week... We fluke a win every other game which means this will be a slow painful death for us town fans until somebody sees some sense and kills him or me!
13

Elizabeth added 17:32 - Mar 19 I really did think that this would be our season .. Barring some kind of miracle , its just not going to happen! As long as the same old favourite faces are on the team sheet , we're going nowhere! Why oh why does this continue to happen ! We have a nucleus of players now that can be more effective as was recently proved ! But no , we have to accommodate those two dire individuals every time they are fit !! Bring on the summer and let's look forward to yet another year in the Championship ! 😡😡🙈🙈

8

blueherts added 17:32 - Mar 19 Raved about Feeny and good addition Sears down the middle is an obvious choice .oh no wait let's put Douglas Skuse and hyam through the middle and Fred out wide cos they unlocks most teams No clue set up not too lose who is the team chasing promotion play off spot MM IS highly paid and our home form is shocking results and style of football MM is far too comfortable with his new contract As for fans booing pay a lot of money to watch that Can't wait to hear the post match expletive riddled sarcasm about what great side they have scrapping for lives Yet when we really need to go for jugular with new direct pacy player new in he bottles it and goes back to like Bored now not surprised either

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